Category Archives: TV News

News and updates about what is on our screens.

Television treats for this week

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When having a look over the TV schedule for new programmes starting this week I’m going to be honest and say it looks a bit disappointing. There’s a few ongoing shows like Scott and Bailey (ITV1 on Wednesday) and Masterchef (BBC One on Thursday) but nothing really new.

So this week’s picks are a bit of a mixed bag. If there is any television show that we’ve missed out then let us know in the comments below.

Broadchurch

David Tennant and Olivia Colman star in Broadchurch. | Photo: ITV

We’re nearing the end of Broadchurch, and growing closer to finding out who killed Danny Latimer. The finger of suspicion has pointed at almost every one who lives in the village, but by building the tension instead it made the series feel a bit dragged out. However, there has been some fantastic acting from the whole cast, in particular Olivia Colman.

Watch the penultimate episode on ITV1, Monday at 9pm. Catch up with the rest of the series online using ITV Player.

8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown

8 out of 10 cats play Countdown. | Photo: Channel 4

8 Out of 10 Cats takeover of Countdown originally happened as part of Channel 4′s Mash Up evening. Now there’s a series which started last week. Again we saw poor Jon Richardson, who loves winning Countdown, had to sit through his fellow comedians bumbling their way through the letters and the numbers game show.

This week on Friday, Channel 4 at 9pm Jimmy Carr will continue to host while Jon Richardson will be joined by actor, Stephen Mangan and they will be competing against Lee Mack and Richard Osman, from Pointless.

Doctor Who

Doctor Who continues this weekend. | Photo: BBC One

Doctor Who continues this weekend on BBC One, Saturday at 6.45pm. The Doctor and Clara arrive at a haunted mansion where a spirit called the Witch of the Well turns out to be more than they expect.

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What to watch: April 8th to 14th

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There’s so much television to choose from, but what are the highlights to catch this week?This is TV Talk’s glance at what the small screen has to offer.

Get your game show on

Five Minutes to a Fortune | Photo: Channel 4

Davina McCall has perfected her game show presenting skills on The Million Pound Drop Live. She’s able to seamlessly go from sympathy to excitement. Her latest game show is Five Minutes to a Fortune where contestants need to complete five challenges in five minutes. At the same time an hourglass filled with cash starts to drain away.

The series starts on Monday, April 8th and is on every weekday afternoon on Channel 4 at 5pm.

A new series of Catchphrase started on ITV | Photo: ITV

Fans of game shows might like to know that ITV have resurrected Catchphrase. The show is very similar to when Roy Walker presented it, including it’s retro-looking set, but there’s no Roy Walker. Stephen Mulhern doesn’t have the same charm, but guessing the catchphrases is enjoyable. Perfect viewing for 6.45pm on a Sunday on ITV.

Fancy a cuppa?

Victoria Wood travels the globe to find out why the humble cup of tea is so popular in BBC One documentary Victoria Wood’s Nice Cup of Tea.

This two part programme, on Wednesday and Thursday at 9pm, sounds very quaint but as a nation we do love tea. As well as discovering the origins of the drink Victoria Wood also chats to actor Matt Smith about the Time Lord’s love of tea.

Doctor Who

The Doctor and Clara are off an another adventure | Photo: BBC

Speaking of The Doctor, his show is also back on this weekend. Admittedly it isn’t really one to forget, although the BBC have started to play with the time it starts. This Saturday it’s on at 6pm on BBC One and sees The Doctor and Clara landing on a damaged Russian submarine. Not only is the submarine spiralling out of control but an alien creature is on the loose.

Don’t miss

Great shows from Channel 4 this week | Photo: Channel 4

Channel 4 comedy shows The Mimic and Anna & Katy finish this week. They’ve been great series, so watch them on 4OD before they go. Catch the final episodes on Channel 4 at Wednesday 10pm for The Mimic and 10.35pm for Anna & Katy.

Finally Channel 4 return to their Big Fat Gypsy series on Sunday, April 14th at 9pm. My Big Fat Gypsy Fortune will reveal how the Gypsy and Traveller communities manage to afford their lavish weddings.

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Recommended viewing for the first week of April

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It has always been the way, when one television series ends there is another shinier one to replace it. This is a collection of new and interesting television shows on this week, starting from Tuesday 2nd April.

Great British Sewing Bee

The Great British Sewing Bee | Photo: BBC

We’re a country that likes to make things, Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry led the way with baking but now there is a new skill to learn. Claudia Winkleman, alongside judges from the Women’s Institute and Savile Row, are looking for the nation’s best amateur sewer in the Great British Sewing Bee, BBC Two, Tuesday at 8pm

Drama and comedy

Scott and Bailey, James May and Not Going Out | Photos: BBC and ITV

A new series of the detective drama Scott and Bailey begins on Wednesday, ITV1 at 9pm. There’s no messing around for them as they discover a severed head.

James May’s Man Lab actually returned last Thursday, BBC Two at 8pm, but it’s a fun series so deserves a mention. This week James competes in the Rock Paper Scissors World Championships.

Comedy series Not Going Out returns on Friday, BBC One 9.30pm, for series six. Significantly this is the first series without Tim Vine, but the rest of the cast are strong so the show should still be good.

Doctor Who

Doctor Who series seven | Photo: BBC

Last weekend The Doctor found the intriguing Clara Oswin Oswald again making her a proper companion now. The next episode, called The Rings of Akhaten is on BBC One at 6.15 and The Doctor takes Clara to the Festival of Offerings, with some consequences.

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Spooky offerings for Halloween

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The weekend gave Strictly Come Dancing and X Factor a scare as the shows became Halloween themed for one night only. But what scary treats are in store for the nightmarish evening itself?

It isn’t an event unless Channel 4 are showing a special edition of Come Dine With Me. Four famous faces will be playing Halloween host at 8pm on Wednesday, including the original Freddy Krueger Robert Englund and psychic medium Sally Morgan.

Later at 11.10pm Channel 4 will delve into Mary Shelley’s book with Frankenstein: A Modern Myth. The film looks at the different adaptations of this story focusing on the Danny Boyle National Theatre production where Jonny Lee Miller and Benedict Cumberbatch swapped which role they played each night.

For intellectual horror then tune into BBC4 at 9pm for Guts: The Strange and Wonderful World of the Human Stomach. The scientific documentary goes for a trip through the digestive system and finds out about medical developments have been discovered to help people with serious stomach and bowel disorders.

If you missed the Derren Brown’s Apocalypse on Friday then 4Seven are repeating the show at 10pm. This series Derren is using his skills to make one man believe that a meteor strike has devastated the planet and there are only a few survivors left on Earth. Of course this is all to make the lucky chap realise that there is more to life and to appreciate what he has. Another television treat for tonight is the Great British Ghosts Halloween Special which is on Yesterday at 11pm. Presenter Michaela Strachan heads to what is believed to be the most haunted house in the UK.

There are of course a few freaky films on tonight as well. At 11.50pm 5USA are showing Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers and Film4 have a series of spooky watches tonight such as The Sixth Sense at 9pm and Swedish vampire film Let The Right One In at 1.20am. And ITV2 are showing the scariest film of the night, Hannibal, at 11.45pm.

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Olympic gold TV

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I’m not sure quite what this post is for. Mostly it’s just an excuse for why TV Talk’s been so quiet lately as well as a little bit of a celebration for our brilliant athletes. Because it must be said we’ve been somewhat distracted these last few weeks by the London 2012 Olympics.

As I write this, Great Britain are a comfortable third on the medal table with 22 gold medals, 13 silver and 13 bronze trailing only the US and China. It’s an outstanding achievement by Team GB and has made for some thoroughly addictive TV. Highlights include Andy Murray’s epic win against Federer to bring home tennis gold, Jessica Ennis’ heptathlon victory, Mo Farah’s 10,000m win (bizarrely he found this more satisfying than beating the Cube) and Bradley Wiggins’ cycling glory.

Andy Murray celebrates Olympic gold

Even for less avid sports fans The Games have provided drama aplenty, suspense, inspiration, thrills and surprises. There has been tears and laugher as amazing real life characters experience joy and disappointment. Who needs a drama or a soap opera when you have it all right here in London?

So forgive us for scarcely watching, reading or talking about anything else for the last week – and I wouldn’t expect things to change too much until the Olympics move on to Rio!

But anyone not swept away by The Games might like to take a look at about the only three other things I’ve managed to watch and enjoy recently. When this distraction of Olympic proportions is over I’ll write about spoof detective drama Vexed, Gypsy Wedding spin-off Thelma’s Gypsy Girls and documentary-with-a-twist Undercover Boss properly but why don’t you get up to speed in the meantime?

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What to watch during an England match

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If you look hard enough at the television schedule then there are shows that are on the television that aren’t football, such as the new David Tennant drama and comedy panel show A Short History of Everything Else.

Although you can take some solace with the idea that not all television is football at the moment, what if you deliberately want to miss the antics of Rooney, Terry and Cole? Then here is a step-by-step guide of what to watch when the England games are on television.

The first England match takes place on Monday 11th June at 5pm on ITV1. England will be taking on France in their first match of the competition. Alternative viewing options include Come Dine With Me, Channel 4 at 5pm, which is on all the time but in this time of need you will want to see people get drunk and fail to make soufflés. If you don’t fancy that then Bridezillas, melodramatic bridal dramas, is on Really at 5pm, and 5* are replaying episodes of US sitcom Malcolm in the Middle.

To cover the second half of the match then switch to Channel 4 for their daily dose of The Simpsons at 6pm, and then the perfect television accompaniment to your dinner, Dave has a double dose of Man v Food at 6.20pm.

With one match successfully avoided, we move to England’s second match. It is on Friday 15th June at 7.45 on BBC One and sees England take on Sweden. The night’s options include BBC Three’s double bill repeat of the Doctor Who episodes, starting at 7pm with Vincent and the Doctor as well as The Lodger. After that, Channel 4 welcomes back the Million Pound Drop Live, which you can also play either on your laptop or on the new app which launched last week. Then with the football over at 10pm everyone should get back together to watch Episodes on BBC Two.

The last group match for England is against Ukraine and is on Tuesday 19th June at 7.45 on ITV1. At the same time you can watch a repeat of the Hairy Biker’s Mum Knows Best from 7pm on BBC Two. There is also a repeat of Inspector George Gently on BBC One from 8.30 to 10pm. And depending on how desperate you are to avoid watching the football, Channel 4 is showing Embarrassing Bodies.

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How to avoid the football this summer

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Euro 2012 starts tonight with a match between Poland and Greece. While thousands may enjoy watching grown men kick a ball around for the next few weeks, others might not like it that sport invited itself onto our screens removing television programmes from the schedule without asking. So here are a selection of TV shows that are on despite the summer of sports.

Alan Carr’s Summertime Specstacular

Alan Carr is hosting a two-hour television extravaganza on Friday night with celebrities and bands taking part in games and sketches on the show. The guests include: David Walliams, The Saturdays, the cast of Made in Chelsea and Justin Bieber who seemed to be confused by his meeting with Alan Carr but enjoyed it nonetheless.

It sounds as though the show is like Carr’s chat show, Chattyman, and will feature a mix of celeb chat, Carr’s humour as well as plying the guests with alcohol.

Friday 8th June, 9pm on Channel 4.

Britain in a Day

Back in November 2011 a range of British people filmed what happened on one ordinary day in their lives. In total 750 hours of video were submitted, which included 11,526 clips via YouTube. This footage was then edited to a 90-minute film which sees families having breakfast, what life is like in a detention centre and even a marriage proposal.

After the film has been on BBC Two then a website will be launched to get where people can see the full film submissions online here.

Monday 11th June, 9pm on BBC Two.

A Short History of Everything Else

Griff Rhys Jones hosts a new comedy panel show providing alternative perspectives on our past. Rhys Jones is also joined by team captains Marcus Brigstocke and Charlie Baker who, along with guests, will be trying to prove that they remember more than the other team does.

Starts Wednesday 13th June, 10pm on Channel 4.

True Love

Doctor Who co-stars are back on-screen together again as David Tennant and Billie Piper star in True Love. The part improvised drama follows the love lives of five people living in the same town. Dominic Savage, Jane Horrocks and David Morrissey also appear in the show.

The first episode follows Nick (Tennant) who is happily married with children, but begins to question everything when he bumps into his first love again. So you get the idea of the kind of stories this series will tell, but if you really want to avoid the football then it could be the show for you.

Starts Sunday 17th June, 10.25pm on BBC One.

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Call the Midwife, Homeland and Rob Brydon all set to return

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Can’t see anything you like on the television at the moment? Then have no fear as TV Talk looks at the shows that have been recommissioned and ones that we are looking forward to seeing.

The Rob Brydon Show

Rob Brydon’s take on a chat show will be back over the summer on BBC Two, as another six episodes have been commissioned. The programme is a mix of celebrity chat, comedy and music, and Brydon says that some great guests are already lined up.

It is not the only comedy show returning, as Sarah Millican’s Television Show has also been given another series.

Homeland

The hit US show may have only just finished but Channel 4 have already confirmed that they will be showing the second series. The continuity announcer said that Channel 4 have signed the rights as the credits were rolling on the final episode.

The Golden Globe award winning show starred Britain’s very own Damian Lewis, who impressed Emma with his realistic American accent.

While waiting for the show to come back to UK televisions, you can pre-order the DVD from Amazon.

Doctor Who

The BBC still has not confirmed a date for the return of Doctor Who this year, but Digital Spy says the new series will be premiered at the 2012 Edinburgh Television Festival in late August. The same happened with the last series of Doctor Who, which was then aired on television soon after.

It has already been revealed that Amy and Rory will be leaving part way through series seven, and a new companion played by Jenna-Louise Coleman will be introduced in the Christmas special.

Call The Midwife

Talking about Christmas (yes, I know it is only May) The BBC has announced that Call the Midwife will return earlier than expected with a Christmas special. The series has also seen recognition for actress and comedian Miranda Hart, who has been nominated for a Bafta in the supporting actress category.

The Christmas special will see Miranda Hart return alongside Jenny Agutter and Pam Ferris, but full plot details are not yet known. In the meantime you can buy the first series on DVD from Amazon.

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